A NEW CHAPTER: Peregrine Book Co. aims to fill void for local book lovers

PRESCOTT - The name of downtown Prescott's new bookstore fits nicely with proprietor Ty Fitzmorris' interest in birds, but it also has another significance for the people operating the Peregrine Book Company.

"The peregrine falcon is an endangered species making a comeback, and bookstores are an endangered species making a comeback," Tom Brodersen, general manager, said Saturday as customers browsed in the new Cortez Street shop.

That attitude appeared to fit in with everyone from Fitzmorris to the people who turned out for the store's grand opening.

Fitzmorris acknowledges that he has fielded questions about the future of bookstores often since word got out that he was opening a new store.

"We did lots of research," he said. What he found was that big-box stores with square footage of more than 5,000 have been struggling in the face of increased online book sales. Small bookstores of less than 3,000 square feet also are suffering, Fitzmorris said.

But those in-between, like the Peregrine Book Company, appear to be thriving. "We're in a period of market correction," Fitzmorris said.

After the recent "major disruption" in big-box stores - such as the Barnes and Noble store that closed at Prescott's Gateway Mall late last year - Fitzmorris says books sales now are "entering a period of stability."

He sees his new store as one that can offer a number of advantages to customers that online retailers cannot provide.

For instance, Fitzmorris said many customers still are looking for personalized customer service - a function that he said the 14 employees at Peregrine Book Co. would fill.

And the store will not simply sell books, Fitzmorris said; it also will engage the public in a steady stream of events and book club meetings.

The grand opening featured a number of author workshops and book signings that will be typical of the fare to come.

Event coordinator Susan Lang said the event bookings have been brisk. "People are hungry for a bookstore," she said.

December's offerings include events such as: a Dec. 5 storytelling for preschoolers; a Dec. 6 writing critique with Lang; the Dec. 7 Acker Music Night; a Dec. 8 reading and book-signing by author Jennifer J. Stewart, and a writing workshop by Lang; a Dec. 9 book-signing by author Tom Van Dyke; a Dec. 11 talk and book-signing by author Ron Smith; and a Dec. 15 children's music hour, and a book-signing by author Alan Dean Foster.

More details are available online at www.peregrinebookcompany.com, and Lang said people can sign up for regular event notices at susan@peregrinebookcompany.com.

It was through a similar email notice for the Raven Café - Fitzmorris' other Cortez Street business - that Phoenix residents Scott and June Vetter heard about the grand opening of the Peregrine Book Company.

"We get the Raven emails, and we came up just for this," June Vetter said. "I love the atmosphere."

Fellow customer Kim Martin also referred to the store's interior, which features original wood beams and brick walls.